Subadh Kumar Nayak

Bhubaneswar: Love for nature has made Amiya Prasad Sahu, an assistant sub-inspector with RPF in the East Coast Railways, an ultimate gardener. Unlike many, Amiya, despite his sheer work pressure, has managed to carve out a unique niche in gardening.

A native of Kalan village in Jajpur district, Amiya currently lives in a rented house in Niladri Vihar area of Bhubaneswar and owns a rooftop garden that is too beautiful to be real.

From Petunia, Impatiens, Pansy to Sebati and roses, as many as 160 varieties of flowers adorn in his rooftop garden which also houses seven kinds of vegetables.

“I developed interest in gardening way back 1992 after coming across a beautiful flower garden in a village,” said Amiya adding that ever since I have dedicated some time for gardening every day.”
“Whenever I shift the house, I speak with the house owners about the rooftop garden and move in only when they agree,” he added.

“All credit goes to my wife Sushree Priyadarshini who manages everything in my absence,” Amiya said.
From space constraints, water crisis to bickering of neighbours over terrace space, the Sahu-family have faced several challenges. The rooftop garden is result of their perseverance and commitment.

“We are facing lot of challenges in our endeavour but we consider them as nothing in comparison to the happiness and satisfaction we get after our work,” said Sushree Priyadarshini.

“Rooftop gardening has become a part of our lives which will continue in future too,” she added.
The ardent gardener also distributes saplings to friends and neighbours to encourage them to take up plantation for environment. His wife runs a website - sushreeindoors.com - which answers queries on horticulture for free.

Amiya's efforts have won him a series of awards including the Nagar Bandhu Samman Award of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Champion of ‘Basant Puspa Pradarshani’ by National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO).

https://youtu.be/bEsG7tcpSec

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